Having an emergency plan is only part of being prepared.


Region 4’s Active Threat Preparedness Certification Program helps school systems evaluate how their safety plans work in practice and identify opportunities to strengthen readiness. Through a certification process guided by evidence-based preparedness standards, participants examine current procedures while building a clear path toward continued improvement.

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What Sets This Certification Apart


22 Preparedness Standards


Meet established preparedness standards and demonstrate how they are applied in practice.


Designed for All School Systems


Built for school districts and charter systems, with participation also available to private schools.


Exercise-Based Evaluation


Put emergency procedures into practice through an Active Threat Tabletop Exercise.


Focused on Continued Improvement


Use evaluation findings to address safety gaps and strengthen readiness over time.


Who This Program Is Designed For


This program is designed for school systems and leaders responsible for emergency preparedness, safety, security, and crisis response. Participation can also engage staff who play a role in carrying out emergency procedures across campuses.

Emergency Management and School Safety

District or Campus Security

Operations and Emergency Planning

Systemwide Crisis Response

Administrative Oversight of Safety Initiatives


What Certification Evaluates


The certification standards address key elements of active threat preparedness and response.

Standard Response Protocol

Evaluate the implementation of the Standard Response Protocol and how it supports coordinated action during an emergency.

Emergency Medical Services Staging

Establish and evaluate designated EMS staging locations as part of emergency response planning.

Active Threat Tabletop Exercise

Put plans and procedures into action through a scenario-based tabletop exercise designed to examine readiness.

Safety Gap Identification

Review current safety efforts to identify gaps that may require additional planning or attention.

After-Action Review and Improvement Planning

Use findings from exercises and evaluation to develop an after-action report and improvement plan focused on long-term campus safety.


The Certification Process


The certification process moves school systems from preparedness planning to evaluation and continued improvement.


01


Implement

Establish the foundation by putting protocols and procedures in place.


02


Train

Build familiarity with the procedures that guide action during an emergency.


03


Exercise

Put plans to the test through an Active Threat Tabletop Exercise.


04


Evaluate

Identify what worked well and where additional attention is needed.


05


Improve

Use findings to address safety gaps and strengthen future readiness.


See the Program in Action


See how Region 4 guided Lincoln School, an international private school in Costa Rica, through the certification process, including an Active Threat Tabletop Exercise that put emergency procedures into practice.


Interested in Active Threat Preparedness Certification?


Connect with Region 4 to learn about certification requirements, the 22 preparedness standards, and what the process could look like for your school system.

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